SEX WORK TOOLKIT
Resources
Sex Work Organizations
To find sex worker-serving organizations across BC, visit our Find a Service page here.
Educational Resources
Living in Community Fact Sheets about sex work myths, misconceptions, and key topics
Comic Strip: What is sex work? (work by Addison Finch, Kerry Porth, Nadine Flagel, Beatrice Omboga, Chris Atchison, and Genevieve Fuji Johnson)
Comic Strip: The Harms of Criminalization (work by Addison Finch, Kerry Porth, Nadine Flagel, Beatrice Omboga, Chris Atchison, and Genevieve Fuji Johnson)
Health Services
BC has five regional health authorities that deliver health services to meet the needs of the population within their respective geographic regions. Find your health authority here.
First Nations Health Authority
The FNHA plans, designs, manages and funds the delivery of First Nations health programs across BC.
Detox services – Access Central
Phone: 1-866-658-1221
This is a listing that links people to detox and addiction housing services.
Needle Pick-up & Harm Reduction Outreach Services
The Mobile Needle Exchange (NEX van) program focuses PHS harm reduction operations and experience throughout the city of Vancouver to pick up discarded dirty needles, and to provide education on safe use of illicit drugs. It promotes connections with social services and housing organizations to build community involvement.
Vancouver Phone: 604-657-6561 Email: needlevan@phs.ca
Fraser North Purpose Health Van and Mobile Needle Exchange
The Purpose Health Van operates out of the Lower Mainland Purpose Society and is part of Stride with Purpose (HIV and Hep C program).
Harm Reduction Outreach: 604-351-1885
Vancouver Mattress Removal
Vancouver residents can call this City of Vancouver general enquiry number to request the removal of an abandoned mattress.
Phone: 311
Community Organizations
There are neighbourhood houses serving communities throughout BC. Neighbourhood houses are grassroots, volunteer-led, non-profit organizations that provide a broad range of accessible, free and affordable programs for children, youth, families, seniors and adults. They also provide residents with volunteer and leadership opportunities.
Vancouver Business Improvement Associations
Business improvement associations are non-profit associations of business owners and tenants who join together to promote and improve the economic vitality of their business districts. BIAs play an important role in business and tourism development, safety and security and street enhancement for their areas. There are 22 business areas in Vancouver.
Police services
Emergency: 911
When an immediate response from police, fire or ambulance service is required, call 911. If you or others are in danger or there is a crime in progress, call 911.
Vancouver non-emergency: 604-717-3321
This non-emergency number should be used when an immediate response or dispatch of the police IS NOT required. This is the number to call if time has elapsed since the incident occurred or the crime suspect is not on the scene or you are calling about a nuisance issue (e.g. a noisy party or graffiti).
Vancouver Community Policing Centres
Vancouver’s community policing centres are each operated, staffed and governed by members of the community. Staff and volunteers create crime prevention programs and initiatives to address local crime and safety concerns in their own neighbourhoods. Community policing centres do not take police reports.
VPD Sex Industry Liaison Officer: 604-516-9854
Sex workers may feel more comfortable speaking with the Sex Industry Liaison Officer, VPD Constable Linda Malcolm. She provides a link between sex workers and the police, through support and intervention services.
Sexual Exploitation Concerns
Broadway Youth Resource Centre
Phone: 604-709-5720
The Broadway Youth Resource Centre (BYRC) is an integrated, one-stop centre that provides a wide range of social, health, education, employment and life skills services to homeless and at-risk youth between the ages of 12 and 24.
Directions Youth Services Centre
Phone: 604-633-1472
Directions Youth Services Centre provides Vancouver’s homeless youth and youth at-risk with a single entry point to access the tools, support and guidance to make healthy, positive changes in their lives.
Phone: 604-708-2647 or 1-877-411-7532
ONYX provides support services to youth, 18 and under, who are being (or have been) sexually exploited.
List of Community Action Teams in BC
See this list for organizations across BC that provide support services for sexually exploited youth.
Tel: 604-291-1996
The foundation works in partnership with the community to develop and fund programs and policies that support the wellbeing of youth in BC.
Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA)
Phone: 604-254-7732
UNYA works to empower Native youth through education and training, personal support, live-in programs and sports and recreation. It has a manual on sexually exploited Native youth issues in Vancouver.
Children of the Street Society
Phone: 604-777-7510 or 1-877-551-6611
This society works to increase public awareness about the sexual exploitation problem by providing education and prevention strategies for families, educators and service providers.
SafeOnline Education Associates
This organization provides information and tools about Internet safety to parents and educators.
Trafficking Concerns
Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons (OCTIP)
OCTIP at the Ministry of Justice works to develop and coordinate B.C.’s response to human trafficking.
Research
(Understanding) Sex Work: A Health Research & Community Partnership
Professor John Lowman’s Prostitution Research Page
Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity
Other resources
Phone: 211
This is a comprehensive listing of community, social and government services in Metro Vancouver.
This is a compilation of services helping those who have difficulty coping with the challenges posed by urban living, including crisis situations, addiction, homelessness, hunger, etc.